Salvation Army Bandsmen&women Past&present

New thread time,Noticed Peter Bale & one or two other Salvation Army Bandmen doing stirling work on the forums.Just wondered how many SA & ex SA players are TMP'ers?I was the Basstrom at Liverpool Walton & also played with the Liverpool & North wales Divisional youth band.Now at Yorkshire Co-op band.

I started playing with the Malton Salvation Army Band........left the Army for 15 years (but you NEVER leave!!!) and have now being back in uniform for 14 months and soilder at Scarborough Citadel (and Guisborough). The best thing I could of done was to go back!!

Is there still problems with SA Bandsmen playing with outside bands

I have a number of Salvationist in my band, (Langbarugh brass) they enjoy the contesting so much, but they do get some stick from certain SA bandmasters, I can't understand that, can anyone tell me why? at the end of the day, an outside band and a SA band is two completly different things, but I feel they both help each other.........You can never "POACH" a Army Bandsmen, because they do not go to the SA to simply play, there is something of greater than that............So tell me fellow SA bansmen what is the problem - Always the best for the highest!!!!!

Current SA man and Bass Trombone at Peterborough Citadel. Also play in the Anglia Youth Band of the Sally Army.

The main issue with being in both Army and 'outside' bands as I see it is in the priority issue? Something comes up on the same date for both bands then who would you pick?

In my case it would be the Army band because playing my trombone is part of my service and thanksgiving to a God who gave me the ability to play in the first place and being able to share in that service with a group of similar minded men and women is a privilege I wouldn't want to swap for anything.

So apologies for all those Championship sections bands lining me up for next years Championships!!!!! :lol:

Well... seeing as it is my big brother that started this thread I thought I had better leave a posting too I was also a member of the senior band at Liverpool Walton (although only just as I left the corps at 16!). When I was 14 I joined the BT band and no-one at the corps approved at all. When I stood up to play a solo in an SA band practice one or two of the band were heard to say "I wonder how much he is charging for this". I sometimes think that people need to be aware of life outside the Army too(although a lot of them are already aware of this when they go to the pub :shock: ). I love the Army to bits and have a lot to be grateful for...
Since leaving the Army I've played with BT (3 stints), Besses O'Th Barn, Wingates, and have just finished a 2 and a half year spell with the Leyland band... on top of this I have freelanced with bands such as Imps, B&R, Fairey, and Fodens (and sometmes still do). Currently I am directig the Rainford Silver Band who are a 3rd/2nd section band (fingers crossed for Pontins everybody :wink: ).

Neil Samuel.

PS Hope I've not offended any Salvationists with the pub comment but... its perfectly true. One Army officer (who was the DYO) asked me why I didn't come back into uniform after attending a few services... my sarcastic reply was "I like a drink" and laughed. They soon wiped the smile off my face by replying "the army wouldn't care about you drinking... its your faith they care for"... not sure William Booth would agree totally with that :?

In my case it would be the Army band because playing my trombone is part of my service and thanksgiving to a God who gave me the ability to play in the first place and being able to share in that service with a group of similar minded men and women is a privilege I wouldn't want to swap for anything.

When I stood up to play a solo in an SA band practice one or two of the band were heard to say "I wonder how much he is charging for this". I sometimes think that people need to be aware of life outside the Army too(although a lot of them are already aware of this when they go to the pub :shock: ). I love the Army to bits and have a lot to be grateful for...
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As a young SA Bandsman, I can sympathise with some of the things Neil has said. I get very frustrated when I hear and experience things like this. However, the type of narrow minded comments you experienced when you stood up to play your solo are not confined to the SA, that sort of silly attitude is alive on all different types of organisations. With regards to your pub comments...no offence taken Those comments & actions are representation of the individual, not of the Salvation Army as a whole.

What the officer said is right in a sense, when it comes down to it, it's not their playing ability, drinking habits or uniform wearing that matters, it is the individual.

Good to see your contesting career is alive and well, all the best for Pontins!